So i know I have not updated in a while, and for that I am sorry. Work and the overall urge to report had left me slightly. Some updates, schools are going well, kids are fantastic and are learning at an unprecedented rate. They now have learned the virtue which I am so ever loyal to, the virtue of SARCASM. The hilarious part is, the execute it quite well! Ah how proud I am of the little critters, not only can they speak English now, but they can be sarcastic...*pride*

Another cute fact. My 1st Graders in PG School had been very bad recently. So me being the nice but firm educator as usual, punishing the bad kids and awarding the good kids. The interesting part is that the children I scold, the next day those very kids are running up to me with extreme excitement giving me huge hugs and saying "Will-Teacher HI HI HI" like nothing happened the day before...im so confused...but its cute so ill keep them :)


I find myself missing home at times. I am beginning to feel that the culture shock of me returning will be way more intense than the culture shock that I overcame in China. The thought of this is scary, if I seem different upon my return, that may be the explanation. I am also applying to grad schools, well... school because I am primarily shooting for Yale. I would absolutely love to go to Yale, that opportunity would make Will very happy (shameless plug for those who have any connections to Yale) :)

I also have an interesting story. In order to get a Visa you have to have a health examination. So I go to the clinic, fill out a bunch of paper work along with the other hundred Expats in this clinic. Then, we are ALL moved into this locker room where we have to change into robes; we are then moved into the blood room where they take our blood (scary); then the EKG room; then the Xray room; then off to the Blood Pressure room and then to another X-ray room. Needless to say I was sweating buckets throughout the whole process because it was just that taxing, but its all over now!

Pablo, Phoebe and I bought a Bar-B-Que Grill and hosted a little grill out with some Co-Workers at Phoebe's place. It was pretty cool (Pablo can cook like a mad man... its ridiculous for the little material he has what he can do).

We all then decided to go out to this Masquerade party in the spirit of Halloween/Thanksgiving. (You walk in and everyone is given a mask...it was a little odd if I do say so myself.)

So far not much new has happened, same ol Shanghai, same ol INSANE Taxi Drivers...have I mentioned this before? The Taxi Drivers are literally insane and drive at 100MPH down a busy street in the middle of the DAY!!!!!! Its the craziest thing I have ever experienced in my life.

Shanghai Taxi Driver Class 101:

Who has the right-away on a corner?...

THE ONE THAT IS THE FASTEST AND THE MOST BOLD

What is a nice speed limit to have on a busy street?

PERHAPS 300MPH IF ONLY CARS COULD GO THAT FAST

When pedestrians cross the street what should you do?

SPEED UP AND TRY TO CLOBBER THEM. WHY ON EARTH ARE THEY IN THE ROAD ANYWAY.

haha sorry I just thought that was funny, but it is so true. The Taxi Drivers drive like madmen, be prepared if you ever decide to come here.



Last but definitely not least, I will answer a very eloquent question asked by a colleague of mine. "Will why on earth are you in China, you talk all of this 'patriotic' stuff but as soon as you got the chance, you jumped ship and went overseas. Why?"

Ok here is my answer. First I would ask for one to define what it takes to be "Patriotic". I for one am an American, born and raised. I am in love with not only my country but the idea in which my nation stands for domestically and globally. Politically I may not agree with SOME decisions made by my government, (but all governments make mistakes) but I have that right due to my citizenship.

Now as far as me being in China; does being a Patriot mean you have to be domestic in mind and presence? Or is it actively and positively representing that which you were born in a dignified light? I feel the latter to be the true code of the enlightened patriot. "Americanism" is not blindly following that which one person tells you to do, that is called a "football team". "Americanism" consists of people that are willing to think outside of the box, challenge the old and explore the new; that is how we were founded as a nation, and that is what we all must strive to achieve as Americans. We consist of the world's people given our youthful foundation, with that in mind, we must see the world as our nation along with our domestic borders. So to answer the question, "Why are you in China" I would say that I am here because I want to see a world beyond my domestic borders of CNN and MTV. I want to meet people that have never seen my people nor my countrymen. I want to share the space with those so different yet so similar to me. It is a feeling that is overwhelming at times... it makes you wonder why hostility exists in the world. Globalism shows you that nobody is different, we are all in essence the same entity, perhaps once this is realized there will be more peace... haha yeah right who am I kidding

until next time